Air-start means for internal combustion engines



Feb. 6, 1940. F BUDZ|EN 2,189,163

AIR-START MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 1, 19:57 :s sheets-sheet 1 HTTo/EWEY H. F. BUDZIEN Feb. 6, 1940.

AIR-START MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lFiled March l, 1957 Feb. 6, 1940. H F, BUDZIEN 2,189,163

AIR-START MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March l, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet L5 zof HfTOPA//SY Patented Feb. 6, 1940 H AIR-START MEANS Fon nv'rnRNAL` V i ooMUsTroNfENGINEs Hugo FQBudzi-en, Peoria,y`Ill., assigner to Fairbanks, Morse d; Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March `1, .1937, Serial NQ.'128,330

` t claims. v (ci. cof-116) f This invention relates'fto intrerr'isily combustion engines, andmore particularly to `engine starting,

mechanism "of `huid-pressure 4 type having particularl application to engines of the Diesel type.

Itis the general practice particularly in connection with the larger engines of Diesel type, to

. provide either an electric starting system or a uicl-.pressure starting system for such engines, the n choice of the' system to be utilized being in manyk 10, instances determined by. the availability at the intended location of the engine, of a suitable source of electric power or of fluid under pressure,` such as compressed air.- In some engine installar tions, itis desirable and preferred to provide both 15 types of `starting systems, `to be utilized as occa-` sion demands, either separately or infcombination to effect starting of the engine. Accordingly, it is an object of `the present invention to provide an improved air starting mechanism of unit type, 2o which is readily applicable to multi-cylinder engines, the number Vof `units employed being determined by the number of engine cylinders, and

further, in which the units are adapted for application to` engines which may or may not be 25 alreadyequipped with electric starters, the operative assembly ofthe units to an engine being made without altering the engine organization.

- Another object isr to 'provide an air starting mechanism of unit type which maybe readily 30. applied to internal combustion' enginespfor use either alone or in conjunction with an electrical starting system, theunits being adaptedfor ready removal without disturbing or otherwise affecting the engine `organisatie i 35 v 'A furtherv object is attainedin the provision of air startingiunits whichwhen more than one unit is required, may be coupled in a predetermined manner, so as toattain a delivery of starting air to the cylinders inra sequence which coro responds tothe nringorder of the cylinders.`

Further objects and advantages ,will appear from the following descriptionand `from the drawings, in which:

a Fig. 1 isan assembly elevation of a part of an` ,L5 internal combustion engine, illustrating the application thereto, of a unit type of; air `starting mechanism embodying the improvements `of this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary end elevation of the engine, as taken along line 2-2 50. in Fig. l andshowing in section, a part of one of the starting units the view also showing portions of the engine broken away to illustrate the application" of thev starting mechanism thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevationof a por-` 55 tion of one of the units, as taken along line 3-3 inl Fig. l; 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary frontv Velevation of a starting-unit, with a portion thereof broken awayto show certain operating elements for the unit,v as viewed fromline 4*-4 in Fig. 2," y and Fig.5 is an enlarged section through a start- 5 'i' i ing unit, as viewedI fromline 5-5 1n Fig. l.

i Referring now to the drawings by'suitable char-` acters ,of reference, the air starting mechanism embodying the improvements of this invention, is associated in a novel manner with a multi-cylin- 10: der, internalv combustionengine denoted, generally, by the numeral `5.1,.The engine ilustrated in the present example is, bypreference, of the 4-' cycle Diesel type, those parts of the engine shown includingan engine housing 6, crankcase` l, a 151 `portion of the engine'frame 8, cylinder organiza-` tions !!l, Il, l2, I3 and i4, a fuel injection device y l5 for each of the cylinders, a fuel supplypump Il for each of theinj-ection devices i6, a conduit i8 connecting each pump with its respective in- 20. jection device, and an engine cam shaft I9 (Fig. 2). The shaftflmayrepresent the-.main cam' shaft carrying the; scavenging airV and exhaust valve operating cams for each cylinder, such `as `thecams 20 and Q2 respectively, as 'shown 'in 2,5

engine organization,` is furnislfiedv with anumber of openings providing access to the cam shaft 35 v bearings and other parts of the engine in the crankcase zone, three such openings being shown in the present example, at `23, 26 and25. `These openings are normally closed by suitable cover plates 26, 2"! and 2,8, respectively, leach cover be- 40 ing securedin place by suitable boltsZB and a *,handmperated star-wheel member 3U threadedly engaging a' stud 32 carriedby the portiontl of the engine frame. `Ay suitable gasket 33 may be provided between the cover and the crankcase to 45.

seal the crankcase opening.` Each cover plate is l provided with an opening `34 in the lower side thereof (Fig. 2), servingto permit inspection of` the cam shaft` and bearings without removing the cover plate. "Opening 34 isA normally closed by a 50 cover which may lbegsecured in assembly to the coverplate, bysuitablecbolts36. A'sealing` gasket 31 may be providedffor the cover 35, as shown in Fig. 2.

, As before noted, the' principal objectof the 55.

air-start units may be applied to engines alreadyv equipped with electric starting I, apparatus, and may be utilized either alone or in conjunction with the electric starter, for starting the engine.,

In the present example, apparatus forming a starting unit is carried by ea'ch'ofy the cover plates 26, 21 and 28, with certain elements of such apparatus preferably formed as an integral part of the cover plate.

` the unit starting apparatus carried thereby are substantially identical, only one thereofwill be described in detail and like` reference numerals' will apply to the similar parts of the other units. .A

The cover plate 26v carrying starting apparatus Yforming a unit of the system, is substantially rectangular in form and is concave'in its lateral extent, as shown in section in Figs. 2 and 3.` EX- tending longitudinally of the upper portion 38 `of the cover plate, and between the ends 39y `and 40 thereof, is a conduit structure 42, the conduit being formed as an integral part of the plate onthe concave side thereof. The conduit is divided by a central partition 43`to form separate chambers 44 and '45, these chambers being provided near the end 39' of the plate (Fig. 5) with an inlet pas--r sage 4G andv41 respectively, extending laterally through vthe cover plate and through a boss 48 formed on the plate; An inlet fitting 49 is secured'by bolts 50, to the boss-4B, and is provided with separate inlet passagesl 52 and 53 in com-v munication respectively, with the inlet passages 46 and 41. Passage 52 in the fitting terminates in a conduit connecting projection or nipple 54, to which is connected an air supply conduit 55vhaving a control valve 56 associated therewith. Similarly, fitting passage 53 terminates in a nipple 51 to which is -connected a second air supply conduit 58, also provided with a control Valve, such asv 5S. In the present example, each valve is adapted for manual control through a lever 60. The conduits 55'and 58 may extend to any suitable source of air under pressure (not shown). The chambers 44 and 45 are provided near the end 4@ of the cover plate, .with outlet passages 62 and 53 respectively, extendingl'aterally through the cover plate, these passages being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A fitting 64 having separate, parallel passages 65 and 65 therein, is secured on one end 51 to the cover plate 25 as by bolts Eil, and on its opposite end 69 to the end portion 39 of cover plate 21 as by bolts 1|). The arrangement of the fitting is lsuch as to provide, through passage '65 therein, communicationbetween the outlet passage 62 of chamber 44 and the inlet passage 4t of chamber 44 in cover 'plate 21, and through passage 55, communication between the outlet passage 63 of chamber 45 in cover-plate 25 and the inlet passage 41 of chamber' |35 in cover plate 21; A similar tting element 12 connects vthe chambers of cover plate 21 with those in plate 28. The tting 12 however is lformed to provide a crossed-connection, so that As .each cover plate anda'l present invention is to provide air-starting appattings may be -readily interchanged to secure straight or crossed connections, to attain a predetermined ilow of air between units according to the desired order` of air delivery to the engine cylinders, as will be later described.

Formed as a part of the conduit structure 42 near the end 39 of cover` plate 26, is a valve structure 13 which includes a casing 14 (Fig. 2) extending laterally through the conduit structure and outwardly thereof, as at 15. A casing bore 1K5 extends to the outer face of the cover plate andi's normally closed by a screw plug 18. Seated within the bore 1S near the casing end 15 is a bushing 1 9 which is centrally apertured to receive lthe stem 83 of a valve 82, the bushing serving as a bearing and guide for the valve stem. The valve casing is formed with an annular ange wit-hin the casing bore15, which provides a seat for the-valve 82.* A spring 85 sleeved about the valve stern and arranged between the valve 82 and the bushing 19, serves to urge the valve to open position, with the valve 82 abutting a stop element 81 carried by the screw plug 18.

The chamber 44 communicates with the bore 1G in the valvecasing through a port 88 in the casing located adjacent the valve 82 and on the valve head side. Y end portion 'l5 of thevalve casing, is a conduit section 8S', the conduit on its lower end being in communication with the valve bore 1S through a which may be of any suitable type permitting pas l sage of fluid therethrough in one direction only,

communicates with a passage |ll2 in the cylinder head leading to the combustion space |83 within the cylinder structure. The function of this valve is to permit flow 'of starting air to the cylinder without a return of any part of such air to the air supply system. The valve also ,effectively prevents a now of `fuel and combustion gases from the cylinder into theI air 'start units, during operation 'of the engine. The details of the valve structure 98 need not be given, as such, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

Interposed between the end |94 of valve stern 8i! and one of the cams 22 on engine camshaft I9, is a cam-operated, valve-actuating device |05. The device |85 is comprised, by preference, of a member |96 which is freely pivoted, by means of a pair of arms |011 upon a shaft |08 suitably supported by the engine frame 8. The member |06 carries a roller lllSvnear one end thereof,'the roller being in register with, and engageable by the cam`22 (Fig.v 4). The member |45 also supports an adjustable abutment which in the present example may comprise a screw 3 threadedly engaging any one ofa number of threaded apertures l |4 in a depending portion I5 of the member |66 with the screw vretained in adjusted position by a suitable lock nut. The abutment normally engages the end of valve stem 80 and is urged into engagement therewith by a spring ||1 arranged between a projection I8 on the portion l5 of member EBS and a spring anchorage |9 on the engine frame. The arrangement of the piv- Extending upwardly from the to effect an opening' of theV Valve in the manner 'heretofore described. The delivery of compressed air tothe cylinders may be continued until the engine starts iiring or until the engine is' in operationunder its own power, at which time,2the supply valves 55 and 59 may be closed. Closing-oi thevalves 5&5k and 59 will eiiect an immediate reduction in the pressure of the' air in the chambers and passages of the starting units, softhat all the air start valves may open underthe action of the valve springs 85 and as a result of the springs Ill pivotally displacing the members H36 out of position for engagement of the rollers |09 by the cams 22.

alii

Thus during normal power operation of the engine, the 'air start valves will be in open position, and the members |05 and rollers |09 Will be out of operative contact with the exhaust cams 22, the latter provision being effected to prevent wear of the parts which would otherwise occur should the members |86 and-rollers |83 be left in .air-start position, as will be readily understood. l

It is desired in the present example to point out 'a preferred manner of utilizing the air start units for starting the engine. Accordingly, the engine .may be started by first opening both air supply valves 5G and $9, for delivery of compressed air to all the cylinders, say in the iiring order. Then, after the enginehas turned over one or more times, one of the supply valves is closed, leaving the other open to supply starting air to half the number of cylinders. The remaining cylinders may then be fired-more quickly, since the cutting olf of starting air to these cylind-ers early in the starting operation has prevented chilling thereof through repeated expansion of the air in the Sil:

cylinders on the expansion stroke of each piston. Thus, by closing supply valve 59 and leaving supply valve 56 open, starting air will be delivered to cylinders m, l2 and the last cylinder (not shown), thereby permitting ring to take place in the relatively unchilled cylinders ll, I3 and lll. This may be reversed, of course, by closing supply valve 55 and leaving supply valve 59 open.

Where it is desired to rely entirely upon electrical starting equipment', or Where an adequate supply of fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, is not available, the air starting units may be removed by removing the crankcase cover plates and the one-way valves 93 and |29 in the cylinder heads. Replacing the one-Way vvalves with plugs (not shown) and the covers 2li, 2l and 28 with the usual blank cover plates (not shown), conditions the engine for further operation. It Will be noted that the application to orI removal ofv these starting units from an engine does not materially alter or affect the'engine organization, the only difference being that with the air start units assembled to the engine, the engine will be' conditioned for air starting, and with these units removed, the engine will have to be started by some other means, such as an electric starter. j

It is to be understood that the present drawings and description thereof relate only to one embodiment oi the invention, and that alterations and modifications in the structure and arrangement of the air start units may be made within the spirit and intended scope of the invention, as delined by the appended claims.

l. In an air start system for an internal combustion engine, a pair of trunk conduits of sec'- tional construction, each arranged along the engine to an extent to serve the air start cylinders thereof, a valve for each of said conduits controlling the admission of airthereto, an air distribution valve for `f each cylinder, connected thereto `and supplied from one of said conduits, each of 'saidconduits'including means for interconnecting the sections thereof, in straight or crossed relation whereby, through the addition or removalfof sections the sectional conduit structure is adapted for application to` engines of different number of cylinders and diierent ring order, each of said conduit sections being of an extent to serve a pair of adjacent engine cylinders and being provided with air distribution valve connections such that said valves of adjacent cylinders are connected to diierent conduit portions. y

- 2. An air start system for internal combustion engines including an air supply manifold structure adapted to be mounted laterally of and upon the engine and including a plurality of sections adapted when connected in assembly, to serve as airl trunk lines, each said section being of an extent ito serve a pair of physically adjacent engine cylinders and' each section providing a pair of parallel but'separate air passages, a connection 'between a pair'of said sections connecting the corresponding'passages thereof to each oth'enanother connection between adjacent sections serving to cross-connect the corresponding passagesof the sections related by it, a plurality of air. distribution valves and connections therefrom to the cylinders, and meansA connecting the air distribution valves of physically adjacent cylinders to diierent passages of the manifold secnony by which they are supplied.

3. In an air start system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines, an air distribution valve for each cylinder to be subjected'to air starting impulses, a manifold structure for starting air,`including a plurality'of sections each of` an extent to supply the distribution valves cfa plurality of adjacent cylinders?, each such section being formed to provide a plurality of independent air conduits, means for selectively interconnecting thetsections, 'together with valve means common to thesections whereby either 'conduit of a given section may be supplied with air while excluding air lfrom the' otherconduit portion of the section, and means connecting the distribution valves of the separate cylinders served by a given section, each to a diierent conduit portion of thesection.

4. vIn combination with a plural cylinder, internal combustion engine including a cam shaft driven thereby, a removable plate forming a closure for an access opening to said lcam shaft, said plate having a pair of conduits carried thereby adapted to receive air under pressurefor starting the engine, valve means for eiecting the selective control of air supplied to said conduits, a pipe connecting one of said conduits to one of the cylinders, asecond pipe connecting the other` conduit to an adjacent cylinder, a valve plate including two air supply conduits, a pipe connecting one of said conduits to one of the cylinders and a pipe `connecting the other ccnduit to an adjacent cylinder, valves for controlling the iloW of air through said pipes, means connecting said valvesI for timed actuation by the cam shaft, and pipe fittings interconnecting the supply conduitsof the separate ciosureplates. f

6. In combination with a multi-cylinder, internal combustion engine including a cam shaft driven thereby and a crank casehaving a series of openings, each confronting t'ne cams on `saidcam shaft identified with a pair of adjacent cylinders, a removable closure plate for each crank case opening, means on each closure` plate forming a pair of longitudinally extending yconduits for starting air, a pair of distribution pipes associated with each closure plate, connecting the cylinders identiiied therewith to said conduits, a valve in each distributionpipe, means connecting said valves for timed actuation by said cam shaft, pipe fittings interconnecting the conduits of adjacent closure plates in straight or crossed relation whereby to associate the cylinders into two groups, each adapted to receive starting air from one of the composite conduits, `so that the cylinders making up each group are distributed with respect to the normal firing order of the engine, and valves for selectively controlling the admission of` i starting rair to the composite conduits. l

HUGO F. BUDZIEN. 

